A homemade video filmed by Caroline Dries, an American TV writer, offers a chilling glimpse into the immediate reactions of people as the tragic events of September 11, 2001, unfolded. This footage, taken from a dorm room in New York City, showcases the terror and confusion that engulfed those who witnessed the Twin Towers collapse in real time.
For many, the events of 9/11 are something they’ve learned about through documentaries, news reports, or photographs. These sources usually come with a detailed explanation of the events that led up to the attacks and the aftermath. However, for those who were in New York City that fateful day, the attacks were a terrifying, surreal experience that plunged them into an unknown and frightening reality.
Before the advent of smartphones and social media, people relied on news broadcasts and word of mouth for information. As a result, the raw immediacy of witnessing such a catastrophic event is captured in rare moments like Dries’ homemade video.
The video, which was later featured in the 2008 documentary 102 Minutes That Changed America, begins with Dries’ roommate on the phone with her mother, describing the initial shock of waking up to the sound of a loud noise and seeing smoke pouring from the North Tower of the World Trade Center. “No way… what is that?” she says, with another roommate reassuring herself, “Thank god it’s not a terrorist attack.” However, this brief sense of relief is quickly shattered as the group realizes the severity of the situation.
As the footage continues, the roommates soon see people falling from the building, and it becomes evident that this is no accident. Seconds later, the South Tower is struck by a second plane, causing panic and confusion in the apartment. One of the women attempts to flee, realizing the gravity of what is unfolding before them.
In a later part of the video, the group is seen back in their apartment, trying to calm their nerves. They joke about drinking apple juice and vodka, but their lightheartedness abruptly turns to fear as they hear the explosion of the towers collapsing. “Shut the window, shut the window,” one of them shouts, as a cloud of smoke rushes toward their building.
Caroline Dries, who went on to work on TV shows like The Vampire Diaries and Batwoman, spoke to CNN about the experience of filming the events. She recalled the pandemonium on the streets of New York City that day, and how surreal and overwhelming it all felt. “People want to remember the details,” she said. “Sometimes I think it would be nice to have not filmed it, just to have run and for time to have erased it and moved on a little faster.”
Dries’ video remains one of the most poignant and raw personal recordings of the 9/11 attacks, offering a real-time perspective of the shock, confusion, and fear felt by those who were there when history was made.
